Spotlight



Feb., 13, 1923.

A. L. STAPLES sPoTLG'HT Filed Nov. 16, 1921 Patented Feb. i3, 1923.

are avarie `ARFTUIl?. L. STAPLES, 0F NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO, WINCHESTEB REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, F 'NEW HAVEN,CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION' 0F CONNECTICUT.

SPOTLIGHT.

Application led November 16, 1921. Serial No. 515,440.

To all whom t Imay concern.'

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. S'rAiLi-is, a citizen of the United States, residing atl New Haven, in the county ot' New Haven, State ot' Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spotlights; and I do hereby declare the following to .be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to battery hand lamps of the type in which the spread of the beam of light can be altered by varyl ing the relative positions of the lamp and refiector. I

t is an object of the present invention to provide a hand lamp in which `the reflector has a substantially fixed position with respect to the casing and in which the desired change in the character of the beam of light delivered by the hand lamp is effected by f shifting the lamp bulb with respect to the reflector. Hand lamps of Jthis general characte'r are disclosed and claimed in my c0- pending application Serial No. 509,885,1iled' October 24, 1921.

It is a Jfurther object of the invention to protect the inner and fragile terminal of the lamp from the-forward thrust and from destructive impact of the upper battery terminal, to provide for ready renewal othe lamp, to provide for easy access to various partsl of the hand lamp mechanism, to insure` 3x5-against"shortcircuiting of the battery and inadvertent lighting oi the lamp, and to secure other objects and advantages as hereinafter made clear.

in the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one eni- I bodiment ot the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of the same embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a section through the front end ot the hand lamp at right angles to the plane of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4, 5 and G are sections on the'lines 1r-1, 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 1, respectively;

Figs. 7 and 8 are details ot the lampadjusting mechanism;

Fig. 9 shows a modification in which the adjusting threaded shaft has a slot so that it. can be turned with a screw-driver or a coin.

tice.

support. n "plunger 18ct insulating material cylindrilamp comprises a casing lof insulating ma; terial, such as fiber, in which are a plurality of dry cells 2 placed end to end in a pasteboard carton in conform-ity with usual pracl The naked bottom of the lowermost dry cell rests on and'makes electrical connection with a coiled spring 3 carried by a metal closure or bottom cap f1 threaded 'to a collar 5 on casing 1. A metal strip 6 connects collar 5 with a switch housing 7 in conformity with usual practice. At the opposite or front end of casing 1 is 'a fiaring metal head 8 fastened to the liber casing by l.rivets 9 and having its front portion threaded to receive a lens-supporting ring 10 in the flanged edge of which the lens 11 is permanently mounted. A reflector 12 substantially parabolic in cross section has its outer flange gripped between collar 10 and the front edge of head 8 so that the reiector is clamped in'fixed relation to the casing.

Coiled spr'ng 3 holds the battery of dry cells with yielding pressure against the abutment at the front end of the battery. This abutment comprises a metal shell or bridge 13 (Fig. 6) the outer ends or edges'l 14 of which are turned up as shown in Fig. 3,

and are secured to the wall of fibery casing l, as by rivets 15. A washer 16 of insulating material is preferably introduced between .the battery and the metal bridge to insulate the upper zine edge of the battery. At the center of this bridge o r abutment andA preferably integral therewith is a cylinder 17 which serves as a guide for a movable lamp The lamp support comprises a' cal in form and movable up and down' in` cylinder 17. The hollow upper end of this lamp support is threaded to serve as a socket foran incandescent lamp 19. The

lampVv canvadvantageously be of the type wherein Athe light-giving filament is concentrated within a small area. Plunger 18 has a diagonal hole for the reception Aof a nut 20. the outer surface of which is inclined as shown in Fig. 7. This nut has threaded. engagement with a transverse shaft 21, one end of which protrudes through the side of the casing and is provided with a knurled button 22 byl which the shaft may be rotated'to cause forward or backwardmovenient of the nut along the shaft with result- In the embodiment` illustrated, the hand ant forward or backward movement of the ggg nii-ease? 'electrical connection with the threaded tcrminal of the lamp. lntegral with this collar is a lug 26, the outer end ot which makes electrical connection. with the liront yielding end of a stationary contact strip 2T. Strip 27 is held in place by a rivet 28 and its lower end is bent to form slinger 29 which protrudes through a slot in the fiber casing and forms one of the contacts of the switch mechanism by which the flow of battery current to the lamp bulb is controlled. The other switch element is :i flexible leaf spring 30 fastened to housing l by a rivet 31 and having a thumb pan or push button 32 by Which it can be manipulated. @ther formsv of siviteh mechanism can be used in place of that shown in the drawing.

Electrical connection between the upper terminal 33 of the battery and the .inner terminal 34 or the lamp is attained by means of ya bronze spring 35, the lower end of which passes through a slot 37 in the, insulating plunger to engage with battery terminal 33. rEhe spring is under compression so that 'the lower end remains in Contact with the battery terminal irrespective of adjustments in the position ot' the lamp and resultant movement of the upper end of the spring yWith the arrangement above described, the battery circ-uit is from battery terminal 33 through spring 35 to the inner terminal of the lamp, then through the lamp to linger 24; and then through collar 23, lug 26, strip 27, linger 29, spring 30, housing 7, conductor 6, collar 5, cap el and spring 3 to the other terminal of the battery.

The opening in reflector l2 is large enough to permit tree sliding movement therethrough of plunger l8 so that by turning button 22 and its attached shaft 21, the nut 20 will be caused to' move along the shaft transversely ofthe casing and will cause the insulating lamp support. to travel axially oi' the hand lamp, thereby shifting the lamp with respect to the reflector and thus changing the character of the beam oi' light delivered by the hand lamp by changing the focus of the rays or" Ilight from the lampbnlb. llith a hand lamp as thus constructed, the rays of light. may be focused on a dist-ant object or may be spread over a relatively Wide area, as desired. Throughout the manipulation, the battery remains stationary in the cosiney and is firmly held against its abutment by coiled .spring- 3. Electrical. connection from the. upper battery terminal 33 s at all times maintained by. spring 35. Similarly, lug 26. by sliding along the yielding and inwardly pressing; end of spring strip 2?, will meintuin electrical connection to the other terminal `ol the lamp. l'pward and downward movement ot the lamp support is limited by the engagement of nut E2() with metal cylinder li'.

ln the modification illustrated in Fig. 9. the transverse threaded shalt 2l. on which nut lo is mounted. does not have :i hnuiled wheel or butto-n lil-:ev that :it 2&2 in Fig'. 3, but terminates substantially flush with the outer wall ol' the casingin a fiat head 3G in which is a .slot or groove adapted to receive a screw driver or the edge oi n coin. such as a dime or penny. Through the use olf a. screw driver or a. coin this shaft can be rotated much as if provided with u Wheel or button.. yl`his construct-ion has the ad vantage o'l leavingr the front end of the casing unincumbered with project-ing parts. Also there is vless likelihood et inadvertent shiftingr of the lamp through careless handling' ol the device.

lnthe en'ibodiinent shown in the drawings. the casing is ot' insulating4 nruiterial7 but the present invention. is applicable to meta-l eesings by merelyv insuleting conductor 27 from the casing, as by the insertion of a strip of insulating material between the two and the use ol insulated rivets. ln the embodiment illustrated, the battery is well protected against short circuit and inadvertent lightingf ot' the lamp will not occur when tin; lamp is laid on a` metal surface or placed among;` metal tools. The inner lamp terminal is protected from destructive pres sure and the hand lamp as a Whole has nanny advantages that. will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Changes in structural details and in the arrangement of the several parts may be made Wit-hout departing "from the spirit of my invention als defined by the appended claims.

l. lne. hand lamp. the combination of a casing. a battery and a. lamp therein eo-axially with one another. a reflector for seid lamp. and means rotatable on un axis transverse of said casing for moving said lamp with respect to said battery and said reflector to change the spread ofthe beam of light delivered by said hand lamp. l

2. ln a. hand lamp` the combina-'tion oi' a casing. a battery and a lamp therein (ro-ariall;y with one another. n reflector 'for said lamp. :i rotatable member operable from the outside ot said casing: anda mit tl'uefided to Suid rota-table member and having; :in inclined face to slide said lamp axially of seid easing and reflector and thereby change the spread of the beam ol light delivered by sir-ld hund lamp.

il. ln a hand lamp, the combination a casing. a battery and a lampmtherein co-astj lOC f casing,

Leases? ally with one another,apreflectonfors aid lamp, a shaft extending across said casing transversely to the axis thereof, and means actuated by said shaft for moving said lamp with Irespect to said reflector to change the spread ot the beamof liahtjd'elivered by said hand lamp. l v

ln a hand lamp, tn'eieembination of a casing, a battery and a lamp therein co-axially with one another, a retiector for said lamp, a shaft extending into said casing at right angles to the axis thereof, and means threaded to travel along said shaft and oper( tively connected to slide said lamp axially of said casing and reflector and thereby change the spread of the beam of light delivered by said hand lamp.

5. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery and a lamp therein, a 4refiecto'r for said lamp, a threaded shaft positionedl transversely ot said casing, and means actuated by the rotation of said shaf't to slide said lamp with respect to said battery and reflector to change the spread of the beam ot light delivered by said hand lamp.

. (S. ln a hand lamp, the combination of a a battery' and a lamp therein, a reflec'tor for said lamp, a threaded shaft positioned transversely of said casing, a nut thereon, and means actuated by said nut to move said lamp axially of said casing when said shaft is rotated.

7. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery and a lamp therein, a iixed abutment for the front end of Said battery, a reflector for said lamp, and a rotatable shaft opera-tively connected to move said lamp with respect to said abutment when the spread of the beam ot light delivered by said hand lampis' Ato be altered.

8. n-a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, abutment for the front end of said battery, a reflector for said lamp, a rotatable shaft positioned transversely of said casing, and means threaded to said shaft for moving said lamp with respect to said abutment to change thespread of the beam of light delivered by said hand lamp.

9. ln a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery anda reflector therein, a fixed abutment for said battery, a lamp support mounted to slide in said abutment,a lamp carried by saidsupport, and means rotatable within said casing'for slidingsaid support in said abutment to move said lamp witlrre'spect to said reflector.' Y

lit-In a hand lamp, the combination cfa casing, a battery and a refiector' therein, a fixed abutment for vsaid battery, said abutmen-t having a' tubular extension, a lamp cari vried'by said sipport, a shaft mounted transv,ersely ot sai by said vsh casing, and means. actuated aft and engaging said lamp support'to move Said lamp support 1u said abuta battery and a lamp therein, a fixed' nent and thereby change the spread of the beam of light delivered by said h'and lamp.

1l. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery and a reflector therein, 'an abutment for said battery, a lamp support mounted to slidein said abutment, a lamp carried by said support, an adjusting' shaft positioned transtersely ot said casing, and

a nut'threaded #thereto and having an inclined face engaging said lamp support to move the same axially of the hand lamp when said shaft is rotated.

12. In a hand limp, the combination et' a casing, a battery therein, a battery abutment secured to said casif` g, a spring holding said battery against sai abutment, a metal head at the front end of said casing, a lens and a reflector secured tothe front end of said head, a lamp support mounted to slide in said abutment, a lamp carried by said support, an adjusting shaft, and a nut threaded to said shaft and operative to move said support to change the character of. the beam of light delivered by said hand lamp.

13, In a hand lamp, the combination ola casing, a battery therein, a battery abutment secured to said casing, a spring holding said battery against said abutment,va metal head 'attached to the front end of said casing, a lens and a reflector secured tothe front end of said head, a lamp support of insulating material mounted to slide in said abutment, adamp carried by said. support,

an adjustingl shaft positioned transversely of said casing, means connecting said'adjusting shaft with said lamp support to move said lamp support and thereby change theV character ogfthe beam of lightdelivered by v said hand lamp, and means ormaintaining electrical,"i connection with said lamp `during.; adjustment thereof.

1,4. In ai'hand lam'p, the combination of-a casing, a" battery therein, a'lixedbatterygafff l abutment secured to said casing andhaving a tubular extension, a closure for tesrear closure and holding said battery aga-inst said abutment, a metalihead attached to the l mounted to slide in the tubularextensi'omof l 'i said abut-ment, a lamp threaded into said support, an adjusting versely of sald casing, a nut threaded to said shai't and actuated thereby and operative to y move said support axially of said hand lamp '-1 and thereby change the character of the shaft positioned trans-A beam of light delivered by said hand lamp,

and means for maintaining electrical con-A nection with said'lamp during adjustment 15. ln a hand lamp,- thecombination of: a y

casing,'a battery therein, a fixed battery abutment secured to said casing, and having a tubular extension, a closure for the rear end of said casing, a spring carried by Said closure and holding said battery against said abutment, a. flaring metal head rigidly attached to the front end of said casing, a lens holder threaded to said head, a reflector clamped between lsaid lens holderand the end of said head, a cylindrical lamp support of insulating material mounted to slide in the tubular extension of said abutment, ay lamp carried byfsaid support, an adjusting shaft positioned transversely of said easing' and Operable from the outside thereof, an inclined slot in said lamp support, and a nut threaded to said shaft and movable along;` said slot to move Said support axially of said hand lamp and thereby change the character of the beam of light delivered by said hand lamp, and means't'or maintaining' electrical connection with said lamp during said adjustment.

16. .In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery therein, a fixed battery abutment secured to said casing and having' a tubular extension, a closure for the vrear end of said casing, a spring carried by said elesnre and holding said battery against said abutment, a haring metal head at the front end of said casing, a lens holder threaded to said head, a reflector clamped between said lens holder and the end of said head, a cylindrieal lamp support of insulating material mounted to Slide in the tubular extension of said abutment, a lamp threaded into said support7 a collar encircling said support and having a yielding linger in contact with the outer iamp terminal, a lug on aid collar, a conductor yieldingly bearing on said lug, switch mechanism between said I conductor and said closure spring, an ad- `)Listing shaft positioned transversely of said wenig, a nut threaded 'to said. shaft and hav-y in testimony whereof aiiix my signature r ARTHUR L. STAPLES. 2 

